Back in Kolkata, I turn over a new leaf

Even though I came back to Kolkata, it was not for good. Having tasted freedom and interacted with people from different parts of the country, I wanted to explore places outside Bengal. It was the time of Naxalite movement and the political scenario was changing in Bengal. I wanted to fly away.
I knew that my stay in Kolkata would be short-lived because my sights were already on Nashik – it was the place where I would get a chance to work on the aircraft as a whole and, hence, my choice.
However, till I got the job in Nashik, I would have to find some means to ensure that I did not have to beg my parents for pocket money that was necessary for a young man to maintain a decent outlook – therefore, I met my Principal at ATTI. He agreed to retain me for a princely stipend of one hundred rupees per month.
In the late 1960s, it was quite sufficient for my bus fares, occasional tea and cigarettes and, of course, movies. My friends of school and college days had scattered, as did my friends of my locality – we would meet once in a while and exchange news and views. Somehow, all of us kept getting separated and the gap kept widening.
As for me, when I was at home, I took up writing – that too in Bengali.
That must sound strange to many because I am a Bengali and my mother tongue is Bengali – but, since I had my schooling in English medium, I learnt the Bengali alphabets only when I was in Standard VIII. Hence, my knowledge of Bengali was limited to the extent of passing the exams.
But, I was determined to write in Bengali – come what may.
It was indeed a bold decision and I wanted to prove myself in my mother tongue. I kept it a closely guarded secret from my parents and also my friends and brothers. I did not want to be made a laughing stock. Therefore, as a first step, I got hold of a few Bengali magazines to understand what topics sell and I found that it was crime – a subject after my heart. (to be continued …)

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

I concentrate on my studies in ATTI

The professor who taught us aircraft materials was actually the younger brother of our principal and he had his subject at his fingertips. It was difficult to stump with any question on this subject and, the best part about him was that even he did not know the answer, he would never admit defeat and would make up some convincing answer.
Of course, he would remember what he had said and, at a later date, he would correct himself in a more convincing way. When it came to theory of flight, our professor was the grand old man who would come to Clive House in his tiny Morris Minor that he had brought with him from Britain. He was a good friend of our principal and both had seen service in Britain during the WWII.
Another interesting subject was the Compass Swinging – it was the setting up of a DR Compass (Direct Reading Compass) on an aircraft. We had two aircraft in Moitra & Co – one of them was a deHavilland Tiger Moth, a bi-plane. It was of wood and fabric construction. Another aircraft was a Piper L-5, it was a mono pane and was all metal construction. The activity was important because in those days, the DR Compass was a means of navigation for aircraft in the air and compass swinging was all about setting the compass so that the needle pointed in the correct direction. This was important because any error could jeopardize the flight.
Like others, I wanted to clear this hurdle of X-license in DR Compass while studying because once ne acquires any one license, he is exempt from appearing in several other subjects – he has to concentrate only on the subject of his specialization. But, unfortunately, that did not happen. (to be continued …)

Tasting life in the raw at ATTI

My joining the Air Technical Training Institute ATTI was a major change in my life and it presented me with hundreds of chances of tasting life in the raw. It was a world of reality, a world where no one yielded an inch, a world where everyone had to fight and struggle to get a foothold, or at least a toe grip.
Within a few days of my joining ATTI, it dawned on me that the field that I had chosen was one that was riddled with thorns. I would get a certificate from the Institute and for employment, I would have to pass the AME License exams – if I tried hard enough, I could get at least an X-license on Direct Reading (DR) Compass. That would be the easiest, because for other AME Licenses in the A, B, C, and D category, I would have to get experience in working physically on aircraft and on their engines.
That is what ground engineering was all about, it was engineering related to aircraft on the ground and was the certification that had to be given by the engineer before the aircraft could take off. A major responsibility where experience mattered most.
And – it was here that I was stumped because, as per the terms of the Institute, they would arrange for me to join a flying club or a small airline company after completion of my 3-year course to gain six months experience. After that I would be on my own.
Of course, I also had the option to appear for examinations conducted by the Aeronautical Society of India and a pass in that would make me equivalent to a graduate in aeronautical engineering. That was the only bright light at the end of an otherwise dark tunnel for me. (to be continued …)